BERLIN: Continental AG, Europe's largest listed automotive supplier by revenues, said it was seeking deeper cost cuts after second-quarter net profit fell 41 per cent, hit by lower vehicle demand in China and steep investments for electric and autonomous cars.
"We are responding to the declining market by ensuring rigorous cost discipline and enhancing our competitiveness," CEO Elmar Degenhart said in a statement.
Degenhart, who has been at the helm of the Hanover-based company since 2009, pointed to a "highly challenging" market with falling car sales in Europe, North America and China.
"The resulting need for action is currently being discussed with employee representatives, with the aim of drawing up a plan together in the coming weeks on how to proceed," Degenhart added.
The company did not initially provide details on the volume of the envisaged cuts and where they could occur, while adding it had decided not to build up a battery cell production.
Continental sees no economic rebound in the short or medium term, it said. "For the second half of the year, we do not expect the headwind to ease," Finance Chief Wolfgang Schaefer said.
The company confirmed, however, its full-year outlook, which it had lowered last month, citing an expected decline in global vehicle production.
In the second quarter, net profit declined by 41 per cent to 485 million euros (US$543 million) while revenues were down 1 per cent and came in at 11.26 billion euros.
Weakness in the car industry had already led Continental's rival ZF Friedrichshafen to issue a profit warning while Europe's largest supplier Bosch expects sales to stagnate this year.
Continental's shares were up 0.2 per cent at 0711 GMT while Germany's bluechip DAX index rose 0.7 per cent. -- Reuters